YEAR ZERO

 

One thing you and I have in common this weekend is that we are entering a new year. The good old days and holidays are behind us. My attention is on today and tomorrow. 

We are entering into a year of unknowns. Open season on good vs. evil. 

The lemon tree above was found in a row of other plants at one of our local road side nurseries this past summer. It was knocked down, still bearing fruit and the dirt in which it was living was dry and pulling away for the inner walls of its small pot.

The attendant propped up the tree at my request and the fruit wobbled on the small branches. I was amazed at how this little tree was producing fruit under what I perceived as serious neglect. The other lemon tree next to it was standing, had a couple fruits and also attempting a good life in poor dirt. Twenty bucks a piece.

They have lived here now for a few months. Repotted, well watered and fed. But they have some kind of blight that I addressed this last week. 

Folks in the know have said it looks like reaction to chemical spray; bugs and blight. I am applying a user friendly spray and a dusting agent. The turning in of the leaves from chemical spray is most likely drifting spray carried by the winds from other places. Bugs and blight are just that. 

Go ahead and start purposely growing a garden or flowers. You will soon learn that what you plant will be in your care. Will need your time, effort and work. Each day will pay dividends directly associated with your efforts. 

Got close neighbors? Start a community garden. I bet they will be open to the idea and work with you.

One morning last week I noticed that one flower had bloomed from new wintering buds. Lemon trees do not do well in cold weather so I have been fathering them in and out of the shop each day. Their nights are spent under a warming light. Not the best environment, but better than the over night lows of late. And the little flower is a hint of things to come. A survivor. A leader. 

I have taken this little event to heart. A lesson. It most likely is no more than any other plant that endures. All living have to struggle somewhat against down times to keep doing what living is suppose to be doing. 

This lemon tree is setting to produce fruit this year. Has a job to do. Would appreciate a much better environment for sure and that is on the way. A perfect home for lemon trees and other assorted garden vegetable's and flowers. 

We will build it and in the meantime they will have to do the best they can under Texas winter circumstances. They will be loved and attended to each day until their new home is secured. 

That new home starts this week. A greenhouse for us. To practice and learn small gardening in east Texas. The perimeter electric fence will be staked out. A greenhouse design and possibly a kit chosen no later than months end. A structure up by the end of February/beginning of March. Landscaping along the way. 

Life, living, growing, surviving and producing will happen this coming year.  If any of us become the lemon tree, hang on and for God's sake never quit , give up or give in. We all have fruit to bear. Good fruit! And should you find a lemon tree, fallen on the ground this year, take the time to pick it up and help as best as you can.

If the mind and body are uncomfortable in the days ahead, it is a sign that we are alive. Embrace the day. Words and advice from Keith. A grand friend and a man who lived the words, every day, day after day, years and years. Well beyond his days left on earth, said "the doctors."

Stay tuned.

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YOUMEANDTHEAFTER...

Last day of 2020. No hoopla nor looking back. Time to become more matter of fact. Basics. What we have control over. No rabbit holes (maybe a shallow one) nor "poor me" attitudes. No savior coming for any of us. 

We are all brothers and sisters. We can choose our paths, together, supporting each other, growing together. Or we can choose not to. 

I choose getting and giving help. I choose some hard work, planning, protecting, a strong belief in God and working goodness as best I can. I am not afraid.

I vow to be the very best man I can or the very worst man I have to be. 

If I fall, it will be from a standing position. 

God bless and love "y'all." Thank you for your time over these past years.

Our test starts tomorrow.

Ymata

MOMENTS AND MEMORIES - CHRISTMAS 2020

 

The evening of the 21st of December, just after sundown, we drove up a tractor rutted hillside and parked our trucks on the top of a rise. The field sloped downward from there and the tree line was well below the southwest sky. Our neighbors popped up 4 lawn chairs and we sat, looking. 

A hint of a orange sun set completed, still shown through the bottom edge of the horizon. And we looked. We talked. My wife, though, was silent. I tried to engage her with some conversation (several times) but she stayed silent. And we watched.

A crescent moon shown brightly over head but not a star in the sky appeared. We checked the time. According to what we had read, that moment had arrived and we all looked up at the sky together. Nothing. 

I blinked, looked again and there it was. A noticeable star. The only star. Then appearing to be two stars. Close, noticeable to the naked eye. And we watched on this warm East Texas evening as the Star of Bethlehem was again born for us to witness. In an instant, a celestial switch was thrown from the sun to light those two close planets. 

We talked of that moment. Thanked our neighbors, from our hearts, for sharing their hill and this once in a life time moment with us. We sat, we watched.

After a half hour the two planets seemed brighter. The naked eye saw more of a single light than two. Without fanfare or notice five spikes of light appeared. I asked the others if they saw what I was seeing and they did. I blinked, looked away, looked back again and again. I looked at some of the other night stars starting to appear in the sky and none shown so bright and absolutely no other star was accompanied by five noticeable streaks of light emanating from their centers. And I watched. I must have done this several dozen times. I was seeing what I was seeing.

I compared the star lit sky to this Star of Bethlehem. There were none other that shown so bright or painted a noticeable singe point in the evening sky.  

It was personal for me, my wife and our neighbors. We were fortunate for the hill, the horizon and the blackblue sky. It makes no difference to any of us (I think) beyond what we saw that night. All of that became locked inside the 4 of us and most likely a unique personal event. 

I silently prayed. For guidance. For my myself, my wife, my family, friends my country. For good health and for strength. I prayed for the goodness of man to prevail. And I thanked God for his presence in my life. Under the star of Bethlehem, was a wonderful moment to offer a prayer. 

My wife has held this moment very close to her.

Christmas Day Eve now. Gonna post and then take a few days off. 

I realized yesterday, when a gal at the local market offered simple advice at check out. I told her I as having trouble with my homemade bread not rising and she said to check the date on the yeast. Offering bread making tips. 

She noted that I had also visited the discount meat corner. Yes, I had and found rib eye steaks at half price. A large circle of bread rolls followed as I feared I was going to encounter a homemade bread failure for the holiday.  

Then she asked if I was a senior citizen. I smiled said yes and to myself said "bless your heart." She said I saved $4.00 which meant that one of those rib eyes was damn near free. 

"Have a blessed day and a Merry Christmas" rolled off her tongue as she handed me my receipt.  Accompanied by the East Texas accent put an instant lump in my throat. From the heart. 

In that moment she taught me how important everyday human contact is. The simplicity of that moment, genuine conversation/interaction/warmth/niceness to others. 

These days and times are finding people that are giving up God given freedom, locking themselves in their homes and avoiding most all personal human contact. They are killing themselves softly. I am trying to understand. 

"Get busy living or get busy dying."

Thank you for the visit. 

Have a blessed day and a Very Merry Christmas.

NEW GREEN HOUSE PROJECT - HEADLINES - THE NORTH POLE OF TEXAS

For no reason other than friendship, our neighbor showed up mid-week morning with one of his tractors and drag buckets and started leveling the west yard for an upcoming green house project. I learned that he has done this kind of work for over 20 years and after watching him take the uneven hillside and scrape it into a level pad for the green house, I knew this was not his first rodeo. 

It was most apparent he knew his tractor and he knew exactly how to and when to use the bucket to fill and level and the drag bucket to finish the flat and slopes to the build spot. It was also obvious to me that I had no such talent, even though I thought I might if I was using the equipment. But I do not.

Watching skilled folk work their craft was a pleasure to watch that cold East Texas morning. The level pad was within 1" of perfect when measured from four corners. 

Now to lay out the pad and get a load of rock dropped in.

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HEADLINES

Teachers working remotely require school districts to hire people to watch kids physically attending school. Coming to a school close to you?

.....

Seattle setting up a new CHAZ. You can look it up. One of my favorite cities in the world to visit is now falling deeper and deeper into chaos. 

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FIRST NO BIG GULPS AND NOW NO CONFEDERATE FLAGS. Screw what the constitution might have to say. There must be rungs on a ladder below the bottom one. Has to be. 

Now in your own homes.   

80,000 doses and ya "don't have to pay a penny!!"

......

GROUP THINK?

"...we have no idea what the long term effects will be....if there are side effects...you are better off find out with those in their 70' and 80's than if you gave it to all........."

Soooooo, if this is the thinking in the medical community; I am 75 years old; ah ah ah ah...hmmmmm.... "well    -    and the horse you rode in on." 

A thinking person just might apply this group think to government officials testing/injecting/administering/ordering/mandating onto the lower crust doses of social justice to needle delivery off what is good for "them." Whew. 

"....and people over 65, frankly, have lived a life......."

And just like that, the age is lowered to 65. So if you are over 65, get a serious side effect, you won't even get an empty bed in the hallway. Expect an elevator to the basement. Reason simply stated that you lived a life and are expendable. Frankly!!

Move on, nothing to see here. 

No one coming to save our ass. Might we all just be on our own now? Feels like it.  

And this just in. IMMUNITY...

Maybe a good idea to take a longer wait and see approach. 

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TIME FOR WINTER FEEDING

Late afternoon snacks for Rummy, Denver and Cannon.  Beautiful at a distance, magnificent close up. 

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WINTER SNOW IN NH THIS PAST WEEK

Accumulation on the driveway at our old home in NH. By far the biggest snow fall in the past 10 years. A hand-operated snowblower was being used here to clear the edges by the house and around the driveway before the tractor snowblower was used. 

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ON THE MIAMI RIVER LAST NIGHT

From a good friend who took his boat out on the Miami River last night. He said it was beautiful but for the idiots and drunks out boating. I responded saying that idiots and drunks out boating on the Miami River last night just might be a good sign given the times we live in. Regardless, beautiful pics of parts of Miami at night taken from the river.

THE NORTH POLE OF TEXAS 20     "Build it and they will come." 

Another east Texas back road trip after dinner.

Parking in near by pastures. 

A wonderful walk through a Christmas display. 

Families by the hundreds, bundled in winter coats and hats come to see.

Train rides for the kids while mom and dad enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate. 

People close to people, talking, visiting and even one gal carrying a blanket wrapped Lemur. We did not get it, but we did not have to. 

People being people. Families' being families. 

Good ol boys chatting. 

Gals chatting. 

Kids heads on a swivel taking in all the lights and activity. And me?

I was a very old kid last night. Big smile, arm in arm with my wife and our neighbors telling stories of Christmas hereabouts. 

Hey, the goats are real.

Kids still believe. Mrs. Claus had the youngsters full attention telling stories of the North Pole and how all the elves are hard at work getting presents ready. Mom and dad taking pictures, their children smiling ear to ear next to Mrs. Claus. 

Santa's Slayride (that's the way they spelled it)

And was all good. Very very good. 

Ya heard it here:

Merry Christmas to all.

Thank you for the visit this Christmas Season. 

Of course it is home made.

SIMPLICITY IN DESIGN - WHAT'S COMING - DEER SAUSAGE

 

Standing up against the wall in a neighbors shop were two trees like the one above. Their grandson made them awhile back in shop class. Yep, shop class. Actually, an agricultural course. Apparently some wood working involved too.  My wife was drawn to them immediately. I was too, but from a design point of view. How simple and functional for yard decoration this time of year. No plastic nor electoral help. A little paint with paper plate cut outs and spray cans of paint. Glitter of course!

I tightened the star on the top, my wife brightened up a few of the colors and to the front yard it went. Leaned up against a tree and fastened with wire ties. Christmas decoration for the season. I take time to look at it daily as we come and go. It is quite often the simple things in life that bring some joy and happiness.

WHAT'S COMING 

No ranting. I am at my roads' end giving advice to myself let alone offering to others.  I ask myself constantly now, what else can we be doing in the few days left this year and before the 20th of January. Yep, we can still get more of this and more of that. Food available, even toilet paper to the top of the racks. No ammo. Have talked of that. We are, for all practical purposes out of time. Even asking for more time is wasteful energy. God knows we all have had plenty of time for the past few years. If we have not done it by now, more time is not an answer. Hope is not a plan. 

My wife looked at me this morning and said that we have lived long enough to witness the end. Witness being the key word. 

There appears to be real fear for gatherings or being in close proximity. I can feel it in the grocery stores now. People move out of the way, hold back within their 6' circle of perceived safety. Not all, but with some it is noticeable. People are polite. 

It has to be taking a toll, to avoid and be avoided in the social and public places. Conversations nearly impossible due to muffled voices. To be housebound for months on end has also got to be taking a toll.

Add to this the myriad of coming threats of against our freedoms and ways of life from newly elected governing class. I cannot find any happy news these days. None! 

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Lemon trees appear happy though in the early morning dampness. Flowers healthy. I am putting off harvesting the last 4 lemons until I have to. They have become good friends at yard's end. They help me look forward to their next crop, next season, next year. Springtime. Growing season.  

Building a small greenhouse will be a healthy/smart endeavor. 

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    A SIMPLE EAST TEXAS DINNER

Deer sausage, black pepper and a little garlic salt, then grilled. Goes with cold beer like cc cookies go with cold milk. 

Jalapeno peppers, de-seeded and the inner membrane scraped out. Filled with sausage and cheese, wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven. Layers of flavor.

 

A long lonely back road in east Texas leads to this Christmas light display. Well done.

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Winter weather this week has been bright sun and temperatures in the mid seventies. Then cool/cold, a few hours of soaking rain and this morning in the thirties with a high of 48 forecasted. 

My better half has the kitchen prepped for more Christmas cookies. 

Some ready to be mailed out and delivered. As in years past, she restricts my access. I have had only three so far and there is a promise for more coming for home eats this coming week. Today's bake comes covered in powdered sugar. 

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And the beat goes on. Would you put your child through this?

For the children you know. Keep your eyes on more of these stories.

Who is John Galt?

 Another week. Appreciate your visit. 

IT IS WHAT'S FOR DINNER - AMMO NOW A DOLLAR A ROUND

Oil and butter melted in the pan. Salt and pepper then floured. Fried medium heat for minute and a half on each side. Heaven on earth!!

Tis the season!

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AMMO A DOLLAR A ROUND

here

and here

Folks in the gun community; hunters, plinkers, home loaders, hobbyists and serious shooters have forever been saying get it while you can. That there is no upper limit on how much ammo to have on hand. 

But standing in any gun store just 6 month's ago, shelves full and over flowing with guns, ammo and any accessory on any given day gave way to feeling that it has always been like this and will be like that tomorrow. Therefore no rush and no need to buy more guns or ammo today. I can get it next week; next payday. And during past years this thinking was fine. Besides, we would be able to see a problem coming and jump into action with purchasing. 

Guns, toys and ammo were costly and damn if life did not also demand the bills be paid and food in the fridge.  

But the advice from most all shooters was get it now and get a lot. Yes, I too gave this advice but now regret that I did not overload the shelves at home. How much is enough of anything?

The correct answer is that there is no upper limit!

And just like that .22 ammunition dried up. Seemed like in one week it was all gone. Shelves went from overflowing to empty. Well, it will come back. No worries. And it did and then it all dried up again. 

Today, at least where we are living, shelves are dry. Dust covered and any ammo that comes into a gun store is sold immediately. There are limits, quite often one box per customer. One box of any ammo is not enough to warm up the engine on a gun and practice at the range or in the back yard. 

Seeing .556 and 9mm advertised at over a dollar a round this past weekend is eye opening. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Advice? Apply this lesson forward to other products that also can dry up over night. 

FYI: Found 9 mm yesterday and yep, only could buy one box. Eighty cents a round. All sold out by noon. 

Walking out of a gun store with one box in hand feels very different than walking out with a box of 500 rounds. Walking out with nothing in hand feels even worse.  

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Getting the lemon trees and celery some East Texas sun. 

Temps in the high 60's and low 70's this week. 

Appreciate the visit. 

 

NEW TEXAS HOME COMES WITH PET DEER

Yep, pet neighborhood deer. Came with the house. True story.

Apparently a neighbor down the road found the injured baby deer and nursed it back to health a few years back. Did not pen the deer, but continued to care for it. Now the deer, named Baby, travels between local houses and farms. The very first thing we were told about the deer is that it a pet and do not harm it. We never would. Apparently, the deer is cared for by all the neighbors. This past week was our first personal visit by Baby. 

The deer appeared silently behind me on the driveway. It blended in with the surroundings and I had to take a double-take recognizing a deer was standing next to me. I figured it would run if I made any quick motion. I told my wife to look at the deer and she too was quiet as we watched. 

The deer did not startle but rather followed me towards the carport and then it saw the lemon trees and the celery. Into the garage the deer came and was quickly chomping and tearing at my "prize" celery plants. We immediately did the hand-waving and "swooshing." The deer was steadfastly snacking. Then it went up a lemon tree branch and found the leaves to its liking. Seconds passed as it snacked. One by one, lemon branch's being de-foliated. 

More "swooshing" and hand-waving. Can't, won't poke or physically move the deer. So we set to standing in front of the deer. Blocking moves. 

The deer stood its ground, its nose working its way up my pant leg and chest. Eyes fixed on mine. And it was like that for the next two hours. The deer was indeed a pet and had zero worries about us trying to dissuade its advances on our plants. So we moved all the plants into the garage shop and back end of the side by side. Whew!! The deer won.

It then walked around the back of the house and I knew that our new garden of wife-plants and trees could be next on the list. Sure enough from the boxwood trees to each of the new plants. The deer passed what it did not like and found the $40-each green trees with bright leaves to its liking. My wife is trying every verbal swooshing mover she has ever known. I am again blocking. And that is all we could do. Making noise did not work. The deer had no intention of leaving.  

Eventually it sauntered into the front yard, leaf snacking. We thought "good." A car drove by and the deer ran. Not away, but back to us and laid down next to the side walk in front of us. Safety ya know! We had the deer's back sitting in our porch lawn chairs and the deer could safely watch the road out front.

Our neighbor drove over and told us that indeed this is the neighborhood pet deer. Said it does visit her from time to time and that she has tried feeding it apples and other assorted deer snacks. The deer was not interested. She said "hello Baby" and patted the deer on the head and neck. The deer responded as a big dog would. Took the patting and rubbed next to her in passing.

It is plainly clear to me that we will be learning about Texas electric fencing around our green house and garden this next season. We get it!! If not Baby, then other wild animals looking for good snacks.

A pet deer! Never saw this one coming. 

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THE DAY AFTER

And it was good. No drama. No politics. Great family and friends gathering for Thanksgiving dinner and all the fixins. Long day but nothing that 12 hours in bed that night could not fix. 

Pie for breakfast. Pot of turkey soup was quickly on the cook. 

On the road to Christmas.

Yep, Christmas decorations. 

New Mexico Governor shuts down grocery stores for two weeks. Deems non essential.  Folks waiting in line 2-4 hours to buy food in the name of C19 today.

I wonder how many folks are crossing into Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma and or Texas to do their shopping. Helping to build up bordering states economies while killing the economy of NM. Not by choice, but because putting up with the nonsense of this state governor is worth rebelling against. 

I put myself and my wife in a scenario like this and realize that standing in a line outside for 4 hours for a few groceries is an experience neither of us ever want to have to endure. But will come to all of us soon if Socialism takes root. 

Plan accordingly!!

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Appreciate the visit this week.

More animals.

As of this past weekend, there is a kangaroo running loose and a pet pig that has escaped its pen. Everyone is on the look out.

SHOOTING IN THE DISTANCE - NIGHT VISITOR

.22 LR Rifle Art

80 YARD ZERO

WHEN THERE ARE NO TARGETS TO SHOOT AT

I try to avoid the political arena here.  God knows it is the blanket covering this country. Impossible to pull the blanket aside to get a breath of clean fresh air. That the smothering of living a free life may only directly affect a neighboring state, county or city is no consolation for folks living in relaxed restrictions. The spirit of a Live Free or Die country is being strangled by folks the people elected. Not to see that freedom for all is slowly being pushed to take a knee to a new world order is the onset of terminal blindness. 

This second lockdown across the nation was on the table for everyone to see weeks ago. The left has told us what they plan for us.  Second lockdown is again programed for a couple weeks, but then expect extensions through Christmas, then New Years, then Inauguration day and then into Spring. All of this is not by coincidence, but by design.

Doing a little homework reviewing states and cities under draconian rule show the results of political power grabs at any cost. To kill a city/state economically in the name of C19 renders people helpless. More and more major cities and streets, once bustling with a growing healthy economy, are now boarded up, businesses forever destroyed and the rats grow larger and many. Small towns too being strangled and left to dangle in the wind on politically infamous nooses. 

Some folk are longing for a little freedom at damn near any cost. Once it becomes dead serious evident, to all the people, that a nation held on its knees at gun point is nearing the end of a permanent death spiral. The good old days will be but stories and those too will be gone when the remaining elders depart. 

In the original movie, Red Dawn, there was a scene where the youth were armed and leaving the city in their pickup trucks. They stop at a mom and pop home/store front for supplies. Anything they want or need is given to them and off they go to the hills for survival and organizing a resistance. The older couple are left behind. The older couples age and abilities were a liability to the demands of fleeing to the hills to live, survive and organize fighting back. I get that. It is the way it has to be. I get that too. 

But now we are the older couple who will be filling the kids pick up trucks with anything we have that they want/need. Our hearts will go with them, with every ounce of hope and love a human can muster for another. But staying behind now too, soon be swept away from patrols working off of lists provided by government officials, does not set well. Yes, they are making lists and boasting of consequences. Not a slap on the hand or even to the face. Permanent consequences for having conservative values and having a voice. 

We are being told over and over what will happen to half the nation in the months ahead if this election is successfully stolen. We might even witness our current President of The United States being prosecuted for crimes he has not committed. 

That being said, we will go out with our boots on and never bend a knee. I hope to God that day never comes. But a gnawing inside of me is worrisome. I am convinced that many a nook and cranny, in this great land, will plan to go out the same way when push comes to shove. God, Country, Family and mom's apple pie. 

There has been early evening and day shooting in the surrounding area since we moved here. Comforting, yes. Some plinking. Rifles being zeroing for hunting season. A 30-round magazine ripped off because it can be. My guess is it has been the norm in East Texas lands for many many years.  

These are familiar and healthy sounds of a free society.

NIGHT VISITOR

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR DAILY PASSING

THANKSGIVING THIS COMING WEEK

There will be family. Early afternoon gathering. The table will be like it always has been for the past 75 years. A turkey carved to the bone. Homemade buns, salads, stuffing and enough gravy to choke a horse. Pot of turkey soup and cold turkey sandwiches, on fresh bread, the next day. 

All of these traditions will be up to the youngsters soon. It was handed down to us and we continued in same. Will the youngsters pick up the traditions and continue or will this day and history become dust in the wind? 

Making the big turkey dinner starts weeks earlier and becomes a 24-hour adventure on Thanksgiving day. There are worse ways to spend one's time. 

Do whatever it takes to keep this alive in your family and circle of friends.

Thanks for the visit this week.

GROWING PLANTS - VIETNAM 53 YEARS AGO - THANK YOU SMALL TOWN TEXAS

CELERY PLANT

Optimists grow things. Planting trees is trust in a future, something of the kid in us staying alive, pleasure in seeing some of our efforts and love pay off, short term and long term. My planting of things is woven in my genes and being around family that planted and harvested. For me, it is a simple pleasure. 

This morning in the brisk East Texas colder morning, my wife's gift of a few celery plants a month ago are coming along just fine. There is indeed some inner pleasure I get every day, coming and going by these plants. Being able to grow during this time of the season is new to us. 

My wife's rose bush has also taken to the Texas soil and owns the primary spot in her flower garden. Just a week after planting, her little rose bush exploded with three of the trees best efforts yet. Not a day goes by where we both do not pass this little bush and appreciate the life it is living here and efforts to be happy in East Texas. 

NOW A TEXAS ROSE FOREVER

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SIDE BY SIDE ROAD TRIP

The next door neighbor and I followed our wives in another side by side, touring back roads this past weekend. The girls chatted up a storm, hands waving here and there as my wife heard stories from years and years ago. Her husband and I laughed that these two were lost in their world as they soaked up the lands near the trail. We think that the area we live in is God's country. But just around the corner, over a few hills lies some of God's best work. A house tucked here, a house tucked there, far back from the one way dirt road. Large green lush fields with trees older than dirt owning the view. 

We stopped on a grassy pull off near another fenced in land. Beyond the gate were the remainders of last years garden, surrounded by a make shift electric fence. The wires have been removed since the end of the growing season. My neighbor shook his head as he explained the amount and size of tomatoes that came out of that garden. We both agreed that a salt shaker is needed when picking ripe tomatoes. 

Quick make-shift electric fences keeps out the varmints. 

Moving down these road, I quickly learned to keep my mouth closed as things that fly can be easily captured mouth breathing. 

53 YEARS AGO 

Veteran's Day came and went again. Seems like a million years ago. My wife and I  joined a veterans' driving parade put on by the local schools in town. All of students were saying thank you for your service and waving individually made signs in support of veterans and veterans day. Quite moving. 

My wife teared up several times, quietly saying; "Only in Texas, only in Texas." I am sure there are many other communities supporting veterans that day, but we were fortunate enough to personally be a small part of this day's community mission. 

I had to laugh as a few grade school boys were say "Merry Christmas" as we drove by. They were giggling and pushing a different narrative. Respectful for sure, but kids being kids to the full extent. I wanted to reach out to just one of them and tell them that to keep it up and they were going to be just fine. Just fine! Yea, it was good; very good for this old Vet. 

1969

Each veteran this day received a personal gift at our last stop. A youngster came to our window, again said thank you for your service and then handed us a small brown paper bag, folded together at the top. Inside a personal designed card with a hand written thankyou inside, an eagle cookie and gift card. 

Thank you small-town Texas. Thank you!!

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Other news sources and blogs that may interest you.

PLUTO TV   it is free with One America New Network and NewsMax available (free)

TUBI TV   also free 

THE ORGANIC PREPPER  current daily prepping advice and truthful information based articles.

DAILY -TIMEWASTER  just fun stuff mostly in photos - fun daily escape from crazy.

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EAST TEXAS PINEY WOODS

Yep, I know about gutter guards. But the needles get stuck in the holes requiring each one be individually pulled out. 

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Will end this blog with morning homemade biscuits for two and home canned Fig/Strawberry jam from a wonderful lady down the road. Never had this jam mixture before. The half-full jam jar speaks for itself.

Fig trees close by and next season some home made bread traded for figs and this jam recipe will be in order.  

Texas Governor just announced "no more lock downs." 

Appreciate the visit.